short-run

American

[shawrt-ruhn] / ˈʃɔrtˌrʌn /

adjective

happening or presented for a short period of time.

a short-run motion picture.

short run Idioms

see under long run.

Etymology

Origin of short-run

First recorded in 1935–40

Compare meaning

How does short-run compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

short-run vs. long-run

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“The Iran situation has created a new source of uncertainty. Despite the announced cease-fire earlier this week, higher energy prices in the short-run will accelerate headline inflation.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

While those percentages may seem trivial, short-run diesel price inelasticity and refinery constraints imply materially higher regional prices, especially if substitutes are costly or slow to arrive.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 3, 2026

"It will take some time to take effect since most goods being sold in the short-run have already been commissioned at current prices, but we'll see it play out soon."

From BBC • Aug. 2, 2025

“I do think that this is a secondary factor relative to decisions by the Fed or other central banks. And in the short-run, other inflationary factors dominate.”

From Salon • Jan. 22, 2025

Lesotho has a marked inequality in income distribution and serious unemployment/underemployment problems that will not yield to short-run solutions.

From The 2002 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023